Hi everyone

We are a couple from South Africa on our way to the USA for a holiday! Flights are booked and paid - I now need to start getting accommodation.

Our first stop is NY and I am already stuck. I would like to stay in Manhattan near the major sights - Times Square etc but the hotels are either way to expensive or a dump.

What would you recommend - I really don't want to pay more than $200 a night (which for a South African at the current exchange rate feels like a fortune already).

Please help.

What are your dates?

From the 6th to the 11th of April.

Your budget is likely too low. You could try a discount site and maybe you will have luck.

since you have a bit of time, you might learn about he various bidding sites (priceline.com; hotwire.com)These are sites where you need to be COMMITTED to your dates, as you bid on and pay for the hotel by giving a price and you agree to take WHATEVER hotel is chosen.
On Hotwire I see many hotels in the $200-215 rate for your dates in various areas of Manhattan in the 4 star (which is really a 3-3.5 star range)

http://www.biddingtraveler.com/

http://hotels.about.com/cs/travelers...icelinebid.htm

Check on booking.com for the Hotel St. James or the Washington Jefferson Hotel

There's a 3.5* hotel on the upper west side on Hotwire for $186/night with 95% thumbs up rating. I think it's the Excelsior. I would far prefer that to either the St. James or the Washington Jefferson. You might also look on travelzoo.com for sales. Unfortunately most are only thru March right now.

There aren't any centrally located hotels for that price in April. You need to start looking at deals and discount sites. Though if you raise your budget to $250 per night, you are very likely to find something good.

In the meantime, I'd recommend that you book a refundable room at a hotel like the Country Inn & Suites Long Island City in Queens, a couple of subway stops from Midtown Manhattan. That will put you within easy reach of the main sights even if you can't find something more centrally located in Manhattan. And you are likely to be able to get that particular hotel for less than $150 per night (I haven't checked) if it's still available. Then keep looking for something better, probably using Hotels.com or a discount booking site like Priceline or Hotwire.

Be aware that for many of these sites they are talking about a double room - one double bed for 2 adults. If you have more people you will need to be specific in asking for it and can;t use Priceline - which only guarantees a room for 2 people.

I'm sorry - but $200 just isn;t very much except in the dead of winter - but if you look at discount sites you will probably find something.

I reco you stay in Manhattan if at all possible LIC is second-best - but is a semi-industrial area with few services and you MUST make sure the hotel is close to the subway.

Where else are you traveling? You could sort of dollar cost average if you are headed someplace like say Los Angeles. You could bust the budget in Manhattan and get a nice motel in LA for half the cost - and it would average out.

Some major US cities are just expensive - others are less so.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. We ended up booking the Skyline Hotel in Midtown West. Just over $200 a night.

If I lived in the states I would come to South Africa every year - with the exchange rate you can have a 5 star holiday with the small change in your pocket!! Oh well.

Now - what do I simply HAVE to do in the 5 days in NY?

Thanks again

Now - what do I simply HAVE to do in the 5 days in NY?

You need a guide book to see what is of interest to you.

I think you'll be satisfied with the Skyline. Just realize that it's a LONG walk from the subway. Tenth Avenue is a vibrant midtown avenue, but there's just no nearby transit (though pretty good access to taxis).

Did you look at the Hotel Newton on the Upper West Side?

It is right near a subway stop and you can walk across Central Park at the 86th St Traverse and come out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 5th Avenue.

Thin

The La Quinta Manhattan has queen rooms for $215 for your dates. I've stayed there, it is a pretty nice hotel, good midtown location for subway..

The Newton looks like it has queen rooms available for your budget for random nghts - not sure exactly when you are coming. It is a very pleasant, reliable budget hotel in a great location. Right near the subway on the mid/upscale residential upper west side. Near many museums and with subway to midtown in 15 minutes and downtown in 30. Tons if moderate/inexpensive restaurants of just about any ethnicity line the avenues and you are only a coupe of blocks from Central Park.

I would take this over 10th ave any day - just too far from the subway.

Hope you have taken into account all the taxes and fees that will be added to your room cost.

In any event, you will have a wonderful time in the most exciting city in the world!


Get tickets for the World Trade Center museum, and see a Broadway Show.